The owner of a soft play centre has been left devastated after thieves smashed their way in and ransacked the premises.

Lynsey Petofalvi was with her seven-year-old daughter when she arrived at Jumbo Fun and Play, in Newcastle, and discovered the burglary.

Thieves had used a crowbar and screwdriver to force open a number of games machines so they could steal the cash inside and also took cash from tills during Sunday morning's raid.

But Lynsey made sure none of the children whose birthday parties were scheduled for Sunday were disappointed. She soldiered on to honour her bookings - in most cases, free of charge.

Owner Lynsey Petofalvi outside Jumbo Fun and Play, in Newcastle

The 33-year-old, who runs the centre with husband Lewis, said: “I had my daughter with me when I got there, which was the thing that upset me the most. When we walked in we didn’t know if the burglars were still in there. I was just in complete shock.

“We have got eight machines which they smashed so they could get the money out, and we’ve also got our own go-karts which they prised open to get the cash.

“While they were pressing buttons trying to get into the tills they were putting orders through which has given us a time-frame – they were inside at 5am. They took the till money but I think they were targeting the machines.”

The raiders targeted smashed open games machines at the play centre

The crowbar and screwdriver were left at the scene - along with a bottle of water. A police forensic team examined the premises immediately after the break-in was reported, and the premises is equipped with a number of CCTV cameras.

Lynsey, who lives in Crewe, said: “We had six parties booked and the first thing I said to the police was, ‘I can’t cancel the parties’. I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“We blocked off the affected area where the forensics were working and carried on. We did most of them free of charge and later on, when we were almost back to normal, half-price.

“The customers were so understanding and I think the children still had a good time.”

Lynsey and Lewis, who have a six-year-old son as well as a daughter, took on the play centre 18 months ago. Lynsey said: “We took a risk and bought it and it’s the best thing we ever did. I work seven days a week from 9.30am until 6pm and it’s out of love that I do it – we don’t make a massive profit.

“It’s heart-breaking that one day you can come in and someone’s taken it all away. It’s scary, it’s thrown us completely.”